Sewer-inlet device



Feb. 14, 1928 G- M. KELLEY SEWER INLET DEVICE Filed March 14, 1927 2UINVENTOR' L I ATTORNILY'S.

Patented Feb. 14, 1928 UNITED STATES 1,659,364 PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. KELLEY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

' SEWER-INLET DEVICE.

Application filed March 14, 1927. Serial No. 175,307.

My invention relates to a new and useful sewer inlet device and moreparticularly to a metallic sewer inlet having readily detachableclosures or lids, and an inlet device which will afford the greatestdegree of safety to pedestrians passing over the same and one which willprevent the dislodgement of the inlet device as a whole and which willminimize the danger of accidental removal of the detachable lids and thelosses due tosuch accidental removal.

With the above ends in view, my invention consists of a metallichousing, preferably made of cast iron or the like, and comprising anupper, substantially horizontal wall, the rear portion of which isrectangular or any other suitable shape, while the front edge of whichis of a shape to conform to the curb line, that is, either curved orstraight, and having a suitable opposed locking shoulder and forwardlyconverging inclined edges adapted to interlock with the curb stones, soas to prevent dislodgement of the inlet device.

The novel inlet device of my invention further consists of suitable rearand side walls, depending downwardly from said upper horizontal wall,spaced inwardly from the side and rear edges thereof, and adapted to beembedded in masonry or concrete work surrounding said inlet device, soas to maintain the latter firmly within the side-walk or the like.

My invention further consists in providing one or several openings inthe upper horizontal wall of the inlet, and suitable inwardly projectinghorizontal flanges at the lower edge of said wall and said openings, andcircular closure members adapted to fit within said openings, and to besupported upon the inwardly projecting flanges therein, of a thicknesssufficiently great relative to the diameter thereof, so as to preventany accidental displacement of the said closure from the openings, thatis, of such depth relative to the diameter that it can not be removedfrom the opening merely by raising or tilting up one side thereof only.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in theaccompanying drawings a form thereof, which is at pres .ent preferred byme, since it will give in practice, satisfactory and reliable results,although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities ofwhich my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized andthat my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement andorganization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters indicatelike parts Figure 1 represents a top plan View of a sewer inlet deviceembodying my invention, shown embedded in a side Walk.

Figure 2 represents a bottom plan View of the same.

Figure 3 represents a section on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 represents a section on line 1-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 illustrates the interlocking of the closure with the edges ofthe opening in the inlet device, when said closure is tilted, or raisedon one side only.

Figure 6 represents the manner of removing the closure from the opening,by raising the same on both sides.

In carrying out my invention, I provide an upper horizontal wall 1, ofsuitable thickness, havin suitable rear and side edges 2 and 3, andhaving the front edge t thereof of shape, so as to conform to thegeneral contour of the curb line. In the particular illustration shownin the drawings, the front edge 1 is curved so as to adapt the inletdevice for use at a street corner.

Intermediate of the front edge 4 and said side edges 3, suitablerearward shoulders 5 are provided, projecting outwardly from either sideedges 3, and forwardly converging inclined edge portion 6, intermediateof the curved shoulder portion 5 and the front edge 4.

The upper horizontal wall 1 may be provided with one or several openings7, of any suitable diameter, and suitable horizontally and inwardlyprojecting supporting flanges 8, at the lower edges of said openings 7,in order to afford support for the corresponding lids or closures 9. Thedepth of the openings 7, that is, the distance of the upper surface of,the wall 1, to the upper surface of the flange 8, is sufficiently greatwith respect to the diameter of the opening, so that the circular lid orclosure 9, fitting relatively snuglywithin the opening 7, may not bewithdrawn or raised therefrom by tilting or by raising only one edgethereof, as indicated in Figure 5, but only by a substantially parallelupward movement of the entire lid, as indicated in Figure 6. By thisconstruction, not only is the unauthorized removal of the closure 9 mademore dilficult, but the accidental removal or the displacement thereoffrom the opening 7 is practically eliminated.

Suitable recesses 10 may be provided at two diametrically opposed pointsalong the periphery of the circular lid or closure 9, in order to permitof the insertion of suitable hooks or other implements 11 beneath thelid, at two diametrically opposed points, so as to permit of the liftingand removal of the lid or closure.

Surrounding the opening or openings 7, on the sides and in the rear,suitable downwardly extending flanges or walls 12 and 13 are provided,preferably formed integrally with the upper Wall 1, and spaced asuitable distance from the respective edges thereof. The lower edges ofthe side and rear walls 12 and 13 are suitably arched as indicated at14.

In applying or mounting the outlet device of my novel construction inthe pavement, above the vertical well or passageway 15 leading into thesewer, the front edge 4 of the outlet device is positioned in alignmentwith the curb line, and the curb stones 16 on either side are broughtinto abutting relation with the forwardly converging inclined edges 6 ofthe u per wall 1. The horizontal upper wall 1 is t en supported directlyupon the masonry work by the laterally projecting or overhanging freeedge portions 17 thereon, as indicated in Figures 3 and 4:, with thedownwardly depending side and rear walls 12 and 13, confined between therear and front walls 18 and 19 of the Well 15, and the side walls 20thereof. The front portion 22 of the upper horizontal wall 1 overhangs acontinuation of the pavement 21, and forms therewith a horizontalpassageway which communicates with vertical well 15.

It will thus be seen that by my novel construction in a sewer inletdevice, not only is the inlet device securely anchored in the masonryand pavement etween the curb stones, so as to prevent the same fromworking loose or from being dislodged, but due to the relatively deepopenin s and correspondingly deep closures or lids, disposed within saidopenings, the accidental removal of said closures or lids is practicallyeliminated, thereby providing a sewer inlet with a minimum of hazardsusually present in devices of this-character.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is A sewer inlet device of the characterstated, comprising a frame having an upper horizontal wall, havingforwardly converging inclined side edge portions adjacent the front edgethereof, and having rearward shoulders intermediate said inclined sideedge portions and the rear ed e thereof, an aperture extending throughsaid upper wall of substantial depth relatively to its diameter, anannular lateral inwardly projecting flange extending around the loweredge of said aperture, a closure member fitting relatively snugly withinsaid aperture and supported upon said flan e with its upper surfacesubstantially flus with the upper surface of said wall, and providedwith a pendant peripheral male counterbore seated within said aperture,diametrically opposed recesses in the periphery of said closure for thereception of lifting hooks, rear and parallel side pendant walls carriedby said upper horizontal wall, extending substantially parallel to therear and side edges thereof, and spaced inwardly therefrom a suitabledistance, so as to form overhanging lateral flange portions of saidupper horizontal wall, exterior of said rear and side walls whereby theinlet device may be sup orted on suitable masonry, said downward ydepending side and rear walls being adapted to be confined between theupright wall of the masonry well, leading to the sewer, said forwardlyconverging inclined edges of said upper horizontal wall being adapted tobe confined between and to interlock with the two opposed curbstones.

GEORGE M. KELLEY.

